Kera’Bur is a city under siege. Kera’Bur is a city on fire. Kera’Bur is chaos and chaos is the greatest ally of those that wish to go unseen. Which is fine if you’ve gained access to the city already, but getting in is still a problem. One cannot simply sneak through the city gate amidst a barbarian assault. Luckily Madeleine has connections, has foresight, and knows the city intimately. A quick row upstream after dusk, and a careful mooring beneath the Bridge of Trolls, allows the three to clamber over wet and greasy stone blocks towards a sewage grill in the foundations of the city wall. Why haven’t the barbarians used this as a means to enter the city? Perhaps they simply hadn’t had the luxury of a boat trip down the Sa’Bur to see it. Or perhaps, as a means of entry, it was too subtle and they preferred a more riotously aggressive form of infiltration, a more barbarian like rush on the city gates. Or perhaps it was too narrow, small and stinky to accommodate a whole horde of barbarians on a city wide rampage. Whatever the reason, it is a perfect entryway for a group of three who wish to go unseen, particularly when it is controlled and operated by the Guild…Oh…well…err that actually answers our question doesn’t it? Along with the blood stains belonging to the bodies of five dead barbarians in various positions of unnatural poise, scattered upon the rocks about the entrance. Clearly not a good option it would appear, at least to the uninvited.

As the three near the iron grill - carefully avoiding corpses - it swings open on well oiled hinges and just beyond the entrance’s mouth, a shadow can be seen lounging against a slimy moss covered wall, tossing a rock up into the air and catching it over and over. The rock throwing stops, with a last, final exception, as it is cast out over their heads, to fall into the Sa’Bur with a plop.

“I see we are now four,” says a familiar voice.

Hood whispers gently and a dull purple light appears in the palm of his hand, faintly illuminating the tunnel entrance and the face of Hy-Jinx. It takes a moment for Hood to understand why she looks different, before he suddenly clocks her change in garb, the lack of bells and the absence of a mandolin.

Hy-Jinx notices the look he gives her and smiles, striking a pose with her hands on her hips: “I’m in my naughty costume - when mischief is a necessity!”

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Hood smiles, not that anyone would notice.

“I’m not called Hy-Jinx for nothing you know,” Hy-Jinx says, kissing her palm and blowing it at Hood, before snapping her fingers with a loud click and turning to Madeleine. “Who’s the fourth?”

The three shuffle forwards into the confines of the sewer.

“This is Helmet” says Madeleine, her mask leering in the shadows.

Helmet extends a hand to Hy-Jinx, the soft echo of his clanking armour dully reverberating the tunnel. “Helmet, at your service.”

“Well met, Hel-met” Hy-Jinx rhymes, shaking his hand before closing the grill with a dull clang behind them, and letting out a quick sharp whistle, before humming gently to herself as if composing a song.

From out of the darkness of the tunnel, two shadowy figures materialise, dressed similarly to Hy-Jinx, but with their faces covered. They slip easily past the group of four, even though there appears to be no space between them and take up sentry at the tunnel’s entrance.

“My my, fascinating! An entrance of guile and simplicity. Operated it would seem by a criminal gang but not rag tag, no! Highly organised and efficient which would, no doubt, imply some sort of moral code even though they are operating on the opposite side of the l…”

“If you don’t interrupt him, he will just keep talking - no offence Helmet,” says Madeleine to Hy-Jinx who is standing almost transfixed listening to Helmet’s ramblings.

With Madeleine’s interruption Hy-Jinx snaps out of it, turning to proceed along the tunnel “So, let’s get going - careful where you step, might not be the best and cleanest carriage way! And where are we off to again?” asks Hy-Jinx over her shoulder.

“We need to get to library so the bell tower if that’s possible, but…we might need a few things,” says Madeleine.

“Well, let’s go see what we can find,” replies Hy-Jinx, striking a match against the wall of the tunnel as she walks, and bringing it to a candle she is holding in her other hand. “Follow me. The draught is a bit chill but trust me, if it wasn’t here, you’d be wishing it was.”

Hood extinguishes his purple light and the three follow the light of Hy-Jinx’s candle which gutters and sparks in the cool draught, throwing dancing shadows on the damp walls of the tunnel. The clang and creak of Helmet’s armour, although not particularly loud, is emphasised by the silence, and occasionally seems to throw an echo.

“Terribly sorry, I think I might need some oil!” mutters Helmet with embarrassment. “You see, the wearing of such a suit comes with responsibilities and a cost, obviously, and a commitment, you see…”